Bringing back Franklin Gutierrez: Good idea for Mariners?

Updated 2:23 p.m.: The Mariners have now announced re-signing Franklin Gutierrez, who became a free agent after the club declined his 2014 contract option. The story below was written before the official announcement.

The Mariners are reportedly close to re-signing outfielder Franklin Gutierrez. This could be good thing or a bad thing.

A good thing because Gutierrez, 30, is reportedly getting a one-year, low-risk contract laden with performance incentives.

A bad thing because the free agent can’t seem to stay healthy. In the past three years, Gutierrez has appeared in just 173 of the Mariners’ 486 games; he has been sidelined by severe stomach problems, a strained oblique muscle, a torn pectoral muscle, plantar fasciitis in his foot, numerous hamstring issues and a concussion, all while apparently suffering through an inflammatory condition called ankylosing spondylitis that has caused soreness in his hips and other joints.

Franklin Gutierrez. (Getty Images)

No wonder he hasn’t signed with another team.

But the Mariners ostensibly still see something they like in Gutierrez. After all, when he has played, he has played well.

In 2009, his first year with Seattle after arriving from Cleveland in the three-team J.J. Putz trade, Gutierrez hit .283 with 160 hits, 70 RBIs, 24 doubles and 18 home runs. The next season, “Death to Flying Things” won the American League Gold Glove award at center field, and on offense he had 139 hits, 64 RBIs, 25 doubles and 12 home runs while batting .245.

Even in 2011 through 2013, Gutierrez generally performed well when he was able. After a .224 season in 2011, in which he played just 92 games, he managed to hit .260 over 40 games in 2012. This past season, he hit .248 in the 41 games he played for the Mariners.

In addition to his injuries, however, one big problem for the Mariners was Gutierrez’s salary. He reportedly earned about $19.5 million over his five years with Seattle, with an increasing paycheck as he played less and less. In 2013, when he appeared in just 41 Mariners games, Gutierrez reportedly earned $7 million.

So it makes sense that the Mariners would offer Gutierrez a one-year, $1 million contract with up to $2 million in performance incentives. And, with his health history, it makes sense that Gutierrez would accept it.

It especially makes sense since the M’s are still in need of outfielders. While the team just signed Corey Hart and traded for Logan Morrison, both of whom can play in the outfield, both are coming off of recent knee injuries. And pending more free-agency signings, Seattle’s only other outfielders are Michael Saunders, converted second baseman Dustin Ackley and prospect Abraham Almonte.

The Mariners have yet to announce the reported deal with Gutierrez, which is dependent on his passing a physical examination Wednesday. According to MLB.com, the M’s are expected to finalize the deal this week.